Heel end assembling machines



Dec. 18, 1956 E. L. BUTLER ETAL 2,774,985

HEEL END ASSEMBLING MACHINES Filed Dec. 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 fr) ven tars B'WQSi L Butler" 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. L. BUTLER HAL HEEL END ASSEMBLING MACHINES Dec. 18, 1956 Filed Dec. 22, 1953 In ven tars Ernest L. Butler Ozz'; MHoZmes Dec. 18, 1956 E. L. BUTLER ErAL HEEL END ASSEMBLING MACHINES 3 SheetsSheet 3 Filed Dec. 22, 195.3

Inventors Ernest L. Butler 027's M Holmes United States PatentUfifice HEEL END ASSEMBLING MACHINES! Ernest L. Butler, Lynn, and Otis M. Holmes, Beverly,

Mass., assignors to United Shoe Macmnery (Iorporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 22, 1953, Serial No. 399,692

18 Claims. (Cl. 12-1) -No. 1,602,618, granted October 12, 1926, and United States Letters Patent No. 1,671,430, granted May 29, 1928, each on an application filed in the name of Norwood H. Knowlton.

An object of this invention is to improve machines of the type disclosed in theKnowlton patents above referred to while retaining all of the valuable features of machines of this type. More particularly it is an object of this invention to improve the operation of machines of this type on shoes characterized by the outward flanging of the bottom margin of the upper at the heel end portion of the shoe and the attachment of the outwardly flanged margin to an extension sole.

Machines of this type are provided with means for driving a temporary tack generally lengthwise of the last through the upper materials and into the heel end portion of the last adjacent to the back line of the upper. It is an object of the present invention to cause the back line tack to be driven through the upper substantially at the bend line of the outwardly flanged margin so that the hole left in the upper when the tack is pulled will be concealed by the welt which is applied to the outwardly flanged margin of the upper during the outsole stitching operation. It is a further object of the invention to provide in a machine of this type an organization permitting the back line tack to be driven alternatively in any one of a plurality of positions heightwise of the shoe, one of these positions being that above referred to and another being the position in which the tack is usually driven when operating on shoes having lasted in heel seats.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the present invention in one aspect thereof consists in the provision in a machine of the type above referred to of an operating instrumentality herein illustrated as a means for inserting a fastening, such, for example, as the back line tack above referred to, through an upper and into a last therein, and a Work supporting means which is adjustable angularly relatively to the fastening inserting means, on an axis extending widthwise of a shoe on the support, between predetermined positions.

Machines of the type above referred -to are provided with means for depressing a last on the work supporting means to bring it into predetermined heightwise relation to the fastening inserting means. In accordance with a feature of the invention the last depressor has been constructed and arranged to act on shoes arranged in different vertical angular relations to the fastening inserting means by providing the depressor with a presser head which is adjustable to present to the shoe work engaging surfaces having different angular positions in a vertical plane. In the illustrated organization the presser head,

when properly adjusted, has surface contact with an in sole on the last bottom thus insuring satisfactory control of the shoe as it is advanced into operating position.

In another aspect thereof the invention consists in the combination with an operating instrumentality, which may or may not be the fastening-inserting means hereinabove. 1

referred to, of a depressor and a work supporting means, said operating instrumentality on the one hand and said depressor and work supporting means on the other handv being relatively adjustable in order to provide forthe presentation of the work to the operating instrumentality in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular relations thereto. To facilitate such adjustment the illustrated organization includes means for predetermining a plurality of alternative positions of a work supporting member. which in the illustrated organization carries-a last pin. 7 Y

These and other features of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a left side elevation of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in left side elevation illustrating portions of the work supporting mechanism and a portion of a fastening inserting mechanism, the rear part of a last and shoe parts thereon being shown in sec? tion on the work supporting means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in left side elevation illustrating an alternative Work supporting means with the rear portions of a last and a shoe upper shown in section thereon; r Y Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view on the same scale as Figs. 2 and 3'illustrating parts of a depressor mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating an alternative work supporting mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the work supporting mechanism of Fig. 5 in a position different from its position illustrated in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is substantially i similar in its general organization and in many of its'constructional details to the machine illustrated in the second patent above meutioned. Machines of this type are pro} vided with mechanism for driving two tacks generally horizontally through the back line portion of ashoe upper 011 a last and into the heel end portion of the last to prevent displacement of the back line portion of the upper relatively to the last. For supporting a last and a shoe upper thereon in inverted position machines of this type are provided with a work support which swings rearwardly to present the work to the operating instrumentalities. The work support includes a last pin at the upper end of a stem which is supported by a sleeve which, in turn,

is supported by a spring which permits downward inovement of the work supporting assembly by a depressor thereby to bring the last and the upper on the work sup porting assembly into a predetermined heightwise position.

sembly comprises a member or carrier 10 pivotally mounted on a crosspin 12 at the base of a machine column 14. A tubular member or sleeve 16 is arranged for end- Patented Dec. 18, 1956 Referring to Fig. 1, the illustrated work'supporting'as- 'tion shown in Fig. 3.

'ate slot 58 formed in the cylindrical member.

. adjustive positions of the presser head 44 are determined spring 18 engages a crosspin 24 fixed in the sleeve 16 and thus supports the sleeve against downward movement.

For supporting a last in inverted position the illustrated machine is provided with a plurality of work supporting assemblies constructed and arranged to be mounted alternatively in the upper end portion of the sleeve 16. Common t'o'each of the work supportingassemblies is a stern constructed to be slidably mounted in the upper end portion of the sleeve 16. The stem is held against rotary movement relatively to the sleeve by a pin 28 projecting radially therefrom into a slot 36 which extends longitudinally'iof the sleeve and is open at its upper end to permit the convenient removal of the stem from the sleeve. Also commonto the work supporting assemblies is a last pin constructed and arranged to enter the thimble in the heel end'port-ion of a last. "In the construction illustrated in Fig. 2' a last pin 32 projects 'upwardly' with a rearward inclination from a head 34 offset forwardly from the upper end of the "stem 26. The last pin 32 is so arranged that ,itssupper extremity coincides with the longitudinal axis of the stem '26. In the illustrated organization the longitudinal axis of the last pin is disposed "at an angle of ap zontally into thelast at a point well below theheel plate.

The arrangement of the back tack shown in Fig. 2 lends itself to the manufacture of shoes in which the bottom margin at the heel end is flanged outwardly and secured to an extension sole such, for example; as the insole 66 illustrated in Fig. 2, since thistype of shoe is usually provided with a welt which covers the outwardly flanged margin of the upper andserves to conceal the hole left in the upper when the back tack is pulled.

in Fig. 5 there is illustrated an alternative work supporting mechanism comprising a stem 68 :similar .to the stem 26 illustrated in Fig; l and, like'the stem .26,. c0nstructed and arranged to be mounted in'the sleeve ,16.

' At its upper end the stem 68 has a head 70 in the form proximately 30 to the longitudinal axis of the stem 26.

Inthe construction illustrated in Fig. 3 a last pin 36 projects'upwardly from a head 38 at the upper end of a stem similar to the stem 26, the axis of the last pin coinciding "With the axis of the stem. For 'adjustably positioning the stem 26 endwise of the sleeve 16 a pin 41 projecting r radially from the stem 25 is arranged to engage any one of a plurality of stepped notches in the upper margin of a collar 42 loosely mounted on the stem and supported by the-annular upper end face'of the sleeve 16.

The supported .shoe is brought into position to be operated uponby the operating instrumentalities of the machine by rearward movement of the shoe together with the work supporting assembly'and during such rearward movement a depressor operates to bring the shoe into a predetermined elevation relatively to the operating instrumentalities. In its general organization the'illustrated depressor is of known construction. For a description of featuresthere'of not herein described reference may be had to the first patent above referred to. To provide for the operation of the depressor alternatively on'a shoe mounted on the last pin 3 2,as shown in Fig. 2, or on a shoe mounted on the last pin 36, as shown in Fig. 3, the depressor, as herein illustrated, is provided with an adjustable presser head 4ft characterized by an insole engaging surface 46 which is arranged to engage an insole on a last mounted on the last pin 32 when the presser head 44 is in its adjusted position s'hownin Fig. 2, and the presser head 44 s also provided with an insoleengaging surface '48 which is arranged to engagean insole on alast mounted on the last-pin 36 when thepr'esser head 44 is in its adjusted posi- Referring to Fig. 4, the presser head 44 is swiveled on a headed screw 50 mounted in a threaded bore 51' in a cylindrical member 52 which is fixed to the upper extremity of the depressor rod 54. For determining the two adjustive positionsof the presser head 44 relatively to the cylindrical member 52 a pin 56 is mountedin the head and extends therefrom into an arcu- The two by the engagement of the pin 56 with the opposite end faces of the .slot '53. The presser head-44 is secured in adjusted position by tightening the screw 50 to clamp I thepresser:h'e'ad '44 between the'head of'the screw and I the cylindrical member 52.

The adjustment in the angular position ofthe shoe afforded by the alternative last supporting assemblies hereinbeforedescribed enables the shoemaker to select ditferent positions heightwise of the shoe for the back line tack-this being the tack 60 illustrated in ,Fig. 2, and the tack 62 illustrated in Fig. 3. With the shoe in its inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2, the'back line tack is driven in to the last at a point substantiallycontiguous -to-the .heel

of an are having its center coincidental with theapex of the conical upper end of a lastpin 72. 'The last .p'in projects perpendicularly from a block 74 the base of which is in the form ofan arc concentric'to the arcuate head 70. The base of the block 74 has formed'there'in atongue '76 (Fig.7) constructed and arranged to slide in an undercut groove or T-way78 formed in the head'70 and concentric thereto. The block 74 isimanually adjusted in the head 79 from its position in Fig. 5 to its position illustrated in Fig. '6, said positions being accurately determined y e engagement of a clamping bolt '80mounted in the tongue 76 with opposite end walls of a-rcuate slots 82 formed in the opposite side walls of 'the'T way 78 in the head 70. The block 74 is secured in adjusted position by tightening a wing nut 84 on the bolt 80. It will'be understoodthat when the block 74 is in' its position shown in Fig. 5 the last pin 72 is in an angular position corresponding to the position of the last pin 32 illustrated in 'Fig. 2, and when the block is in its position illustrated in Fig. 6 the last pin is in an angular position corresponding 'to' the position of the last pin 36 illustrated in Fig. 3. v 7

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, an operatinginstrumentality, a work support mounted for swinging movement, means on the work support for supporting a last in an 'inciined' position with its toe end elevated, and a depressor mounted to swing with the work support and arranged to locate the last generally heightwise thereof relatively to the operating instrumentality.

2. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, means for inserting a fastening through an upper and into a last therein in the region of the back line of the upper, means for'positioning a last, with an upper thereon, at an inclination with its toe end elevated, and with the last so located heightwise thereof that the fastening isdriven at a point-adjacent to the heel seat face of the last.

3. In a machine for ope-rating on the heel end portions of shoes,-means for inserting a fastening through an upper and into a last therein in the region of the back line of the upper, a last supporting spindle constructed and arranged for swingingmovernent:to advance of the upper, and work supporting means, said work supporting means being adjustable angularly relatively to the fastening inserting means, on an axis extending widthwise of a last on the support, between predetermined positions.

5. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, means for inserting a fastening through an upper and into a last therein in the region of the back line of the upper, a work support, and a depressor angularly adjustable relatively to the fastening inserting means.

6. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, means for inserting a fastening through an upper and into a last therein in the region of the back line, last depressing means and work supporting means, said fastening inserting means and work supporting means being relatively adjustable angularly, on an axis extending widthwise of a shoe on the support, between predetermined positions.

7. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with an operating instrumentality, of a depressor and a work supporting means, said operating instrumentality on the one hand and said depressor and work supporting means on the other hand being relatively adjustable in order to provide for the presentation of the work to the operating instrumentality in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular relations thereto.

8. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with an operating instrumentality, of Work supporting means and a depressor, both the Work supporting means and the depressor being constructed and arranged to provide for the positioning of the work in any one of a plurality of predetermined angular positions relatively to the operating instrumentality.

9. In a machine for operating on heel end portions of shoes, the combination of work supporting means movable to present the work to operating instrumentalities, a depressor member characterized by a plurality of plane work engaging surfaces, means on which the depressor member is mounted for orientation to present any one of said surfaces to the work, and means operated by movement of the work supporting means for actuating the depressor.

10. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with means for supporting a last in inverted position, of means comprising an arm, a depressor member on said arm characterized by a plurality of work engaging surfaces, and means on the arm providing a plurality of abutments for accurately determining a plurality of positions of the depressor member.

11. In a shoe machine, a member constructed and arranged to mount alternatively any one of a plurality of work supports for supporting shoes in different angular positions, and a depressor adjustable to suit the angular position of the work.

12. In a shoe machine, a member constructed and arranged to mount alternatively any one of a plurality of work supports for supporting shoes in different angular positions, and a depressor constructed and arranged to be oriented into any one of a plurality of accurately predetermined positions to suit the angular position of the work.

13. In a shoe machine, work depressing means comprising an arm, a head on the arm, a depressor member characterized by a plurality of work engaging surfaces,

means mounting the member on the head for orientation to present any one of said surfaces to the work, and means for accurately determining positions of the member relatively to the head to suit difierent angular positions of the work.

14. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, the combination with work supporting means and means for inserting a fastening through an upper and into a last in the region of the back line of the upper of a depressor including a presser head which is adjustable to present to the work any one of a plurality of work engaging surfaces having different angular positions in a vertical plane.

15. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, means for supporting in inverted position a last having shoe upper parts mounted thereon, means for inserting a fastening through the shoe upper parts and into the last in the region of the back line of the upper, and a depressor constructed and arranged to engage an insole on the last bottom, said depressor including a head which is adjustable to present to the insole any one of a plurality of insole engaging surfaces arranged at diiferent angles in a vertical plane.

16. In a machine for operating on the heel end portions of shoes, means for supporting in inverted position a last having shoe upper parts mounted thereon, means for inserting a fastening through the shoe upper parts and into the last in the region of the back line of the upper, work depressing means comprising an arm and a head swiveled on the arm for adjustment to present to an insole on the last bottom any one of a plurality of insole engaging surfaces arranged, relatively to each other, in ditferent angular positions in a vertical plane.

17. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with an operating instrumentality, of work supporting means including a last pin and means mounting the last pin for angular adjustment on an axis extending widthwise of a shoe in the machine, and a depressor comprising an arm and a head mounted on the arm for angular adjustment on an axis extending widthwise of the shoe.

18. In a machine for operating on shoes, the combination with an operating instrumentality, of Work supporting means including a last pin and means mounting the last pin for angular adjustment on an axis extending widthwise of a shoe in the machine, a depressor com prising an arm and a head mounted on the armfor angular adjustment on an axis extending widthwise of the shoe, means for predetermining a plurality of alternative positions of the past pin, and means for predetermining a plurality of alternative positions of the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,110,308 Ashton Sept. 15, 1914 1,277,764 Simmons Sept. 3, 1918 1,634,502 Jorgensen July 5, 1927 1,775,678 Jorgensen et a1. Sept. 16, 1930 2,067,295 Thum Jan. 12, 1937 2,083,777 Finn June 15, 1937 2,188,978 La Chapelle Feb. 6, 1940 2,202,005 Holmgren May 28, 1940 2,534,343 Eich et al. Dec. 19, 1950 

